Door handle assembly



Sept. 13, 1949.

B. S. FLORADAY DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed se t INVENTOR. dVZM Patented Sept. 13, 1 949 DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Burton :SeEloradayefloledo, Ohio: assignorto lle' troit Harvester Company, -De'troitfMichn a corporation of Michigan Application September 6, 1945,35erialJSlo.1314,1332,v ICIaim; (Cl. 64'- '-'.-30):=.

This invention relates to a window regulator mechanism but more particularly to a window regulator handle adapted for use in connection with public vehicles such as buses or the like.

Not infrequently the occupants of such vehicles tamper with the handles and turn them with excessive energy which often results in the breakage of the handle or driving spindle. It would be deemed an advantage if the regulator units could be so constructed that the elfort necessary to turn the handle could be varied at the will of the mechanic, and if turned the handle could be adjusted to turn independently of the spindle.

An object of this invention is the production of a vehicle window regulator handle which may be easily adjusted to turn with or independently of the enclosed driving spindle.

Another object of this invention is the production of a window regulator handle in which the effort necessary to turn the handle in relation to the spindle may be varied b simple, accessible means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction, arrangement and operation as hereinafter described, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the handle and spindle showing the arrangement of the units comprising the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the spindle and sleeve section;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the clutch plate adapted for assembly in the sleeve keyway; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the clutch plate adapted for assembly in the spindle keyway.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a crank handle I 0 mounted on a spindle II and provided with a large cavity forming a sleeve or skirt section !2. The lower inside portion of the sleeve i2 is threaded to engage a similarly threaded collar I3 enclosing the cavity, and adapted for inward or outward adjustment by turning said collar I3 in relation to the sleeve I2. An opening in the center of the collar I3 is sufiiciently large to serve as a bearing for the spindle II which extends therethrough and permits rotational movement of the collar I3 in relation to said spindle II. Disposed within the large cavity and about the spindle II is a coil spring M, one end of which abuts the inside 2- surface -of-the collar I 3, the opposite end --bea-r= ing against the first of a series of clutch plates I5.

Two modifications of clutch plates are used. One type I5a, shown in Figure 4, is disc-shaped with a central opening I1 slightly larger than the diameter of the spindle II and an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the sleeve I2. Two rectangularly shaped flanges I8 extend outwardly from the perimeter of the disc and fit into similarly shaped longitudinal slots I9 in the length of the sleeve such that this group of plates are adapted for longitudinal movement in relation to the sleeve but must, however, rotate with the sleeve I2. The other modification of the clutch plate I5b, shown in Figure 5, is similar to that of I51; other than the two flanges 20 extend inwardly from the perimeter of the central opening and fit into two similarly shaped longitudinal slots ZI in the spindle I! such that these plates move rotationally only with the spindle but may also be moved longitudinally in relation to the spindle II. Discs I6 of frictional material are interposed between the plates Ilia and I5b which are alternatively disposed about spindle I I, the last of these clutch plates seating against the shoulder 22 formed where the larger cavity of the sleeve continues inwardly as cavities 23 and 24 of progressively smaller diameter, the latter serving as an end bearing in which the spindle I I rides. The spindle II is restrained from independent longitudinal movement by a lock pin 25 which extends through the enoricling portion of the handle I 0 and rides in the annular groove 26 near the end of the spindle II.

It is a well-known fact that the effort necessary to move one surface over another increases with increasing pressure between those surfaces. Thus, when the collar I3 is rotated for upward movement, the spring I4 is further compressed creating greater pressure between the clutch plates I5 and the friction discs I5 such that considerably greater efiort is necessary to turn the plates I5a in relation to the plates I5b or, similarly, the crank handle ill in relation to the spindle II. Likewise movement of the collar I3 outwardly will result in some relaxation of the compressive forces and thus require less effort to turn the crank handle I 0. However, the units are independently disposed such that effort expended in excess to that required to overcome the friction between the plates and friction discs merely results in the rotation of one plate in relation to 3 the other, or similarly, rotation of the crank handle It] in relation the spindle II.

It is apparent that I have produced a simple inexpensive means for increasing or decreasing the effort necessary to turn the crank handle of a window regulator and preventing excessive breakage of such units.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A vehicle window regulator handle comprising a crank arm, a hub integral with the base of the crank arm and extending at substantially right angles therefrom, an elongate sleeve on said hub forming a socket, said hub having an axially disposed socket, a spindle co-axial with said sleeve and fitting said socket, means for holding said spindle in said socket but enabling relative turning movements thereof, a plurality of disc-like tively against said collar and the adjacent one of said disc-like plates.

URTON S. FLORADAY. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,848,260 McCray Mar. 8, 1932 20 2,360,887 Parker Oct. 24, 1944 and serving as a bearing 7 

